Iowa driving guide

Get up to speed with everything you need to know before heading off to Iowa, from the speed limits and car seat requirements to the general driving rules in Iowa. Once you’ve done your research, you can get out there and start enjoying The Hawkeye State.

Jump to a section:

• Quick rules of the road
• Speed limits
• Toll roads
• Driving ages
• Essential equipment
• Speed violations
• Driving with children
• Gas prices
• Electric car charging
• Driving between Iowa and other states
• Driving conditions 

Quick rules of the road

• Pedestrians and cyclists always have right of way.
• If there are no traffic lights at a four-way stop, the first vehicle to arrive at the intersection has right of way.
• If two vehicles arrive at an intersection at the same time, you must yield to the furthest vehicle on the right.
• Left-turning vehicles must yield right of way to vehicles going straight ahead.
• You must use your headlights from sunset to sunrise and when visibility is reduced to 500ft.
• You cannot use a cell phone while driving unless the vehicle is at a complete stop and off the travelled part of the roadway.

Speed limits in Iowa

Make sure you get to grips with Iowa speed limits before starting your road trip. Don’t forget that speed limits can vary depending on the type of vehicle you drive, as well as the type of road – the interstate speed limit in Iowa is different to a residential area.

Toll roads in Iowa

Iowa is one of few states where there are no toll roads. This means that you won’t need to set aside any funds to pay tolls and can travel across the entire state without planning in toll roads.

Driving ages and license requirements in Iowa

• The legal driving age in Iowa is 18, but there’s a Graduated Driver’s License system in place for drivers as young as 14.
• The minimum age to rent a car in Iowa with Hertz is 20.

If you’re a young driver looking to rent with Hertz, check out our guide for renting when you’re under 25.

Essential equipment to carry in your car in Iowa

In your vehicle, you must have:

• A valid driving license.

For your convenience it would also be useful to have:

• Drinking water
• First aid kit
• Cell phone charger
• Cables for car battery
• Sunglasses
• Jacket
• Map.

For a list of items that you can’t carry in your Hertz car, please check your rental agreement.

Iowa speed violations, infractions and penalties

Speeding is classified as a misdemeanor in Iowa. The following fines will apply:

• $20 if you go over the speed limit by more than five miles per hour.
• $40 if you go over the speed limit by between five and 10mph.
• $80 if you go over the speed limit by between 10mph and 15mph.
• $90 if you go over the speed limit by between 15mph and 20mph.
• $100 if you go over the speed limit by 20mph, plus an additional $5 for every extra one mile per hour you speed.
• You can expect a $100 fine if you speed in a school zone, as well as jail time or a larger fine.

Driving with children in Iowa

Make sure you’re aware of all car seat requirements in Iowa, so your youngest passengers are safe.

• Children less than a year old and under 20 pounds must be secured in a rear-facing child restraint system.
• Children under six years old need to be secured in a child restraint system – such as a booster seat or safety seat.
• Children between the ages of six and 11 must be secured in a child restraint system or a seat belt.
• Children in the back seats must wear seat belts up to the age of 18.

Gas prices in Iowa

The average gas price in Iowa is $3.56 per gallon.

Based on manufacturers’ average fuel figures:

• For a small car like a Ford Focus, that’s about $0.09 per mile.
• For a larger family car like a Nissan Pathfinder, it works out at $0.13 per mile.
• And for an SUV like a Chevrolet Equinox, it’s around $0.17 per mile.

Gas price figure last updated November 4, 2022.

Electric car charging in Iowa

The number of electric vehicles in the state are increasing. As of April 2022, over 9,400 electric and hybrid vehicles were registered in Iowa. To keep up with the growing popularity, there are 270 Level 2 and Level 3 fast-charging stations for public use across Iowa, so there’s plenty of places charge up.

Driving between Iowa and other states

Iowa is bordered by several states, making it easy to add a few extra stops to your trip. This includes:

·       Minnesota

·       Wisconsin

·       Illinois

·       Missouri

·       Nebraska

·       South Dakota. 

You can travel between these states with ease in your Hertz car rental. You can even opt for a one-way rental and decide to pick up your rental car in one state and drop it off in another.

Driving conditions in Iowa

Iowa has cold winters and warm, humid summers. Snowfall in the winter is light but has been known to be heavy during late autumn and early spring.

In the winter, the temperature ranges from 14°F in the northwest to the low 20°Fs in the southeast. In the summer, the average temperature is in the mid-80°Fs, but it rarely gets as hot as 100°F.

Rainfall is most likely in the summer months and Iowa has experienced severe flooding due to heavy summer rainstorms.